Movies you can’t help watching all the way through no matter when you turn them on

I know we’ve had this discussion before and the usual suspects make the list. But I’m not talking about you’re flipping channels, find it on, and casually don’t change the channel cause you’re either too lazy or have resigned yourself to the fact that nothing better’s on and you casually watch it till it over. I’m talking about you come across it—the beginning, the meddling middle, the climax, the denouement—you’re locked in till it’s over. Entranced. Unable to turn the channel, unable to turn away.

Jaws is on and it’s #1 for me. No matter where I catch it, no matter what else is on save an LSU football game, I’m locked in and loaded until the bitter(sweet) end.

The other is A Few Good Men. My baby girl spent the night in my bed the other night for the 1st time in a while, and I turned on A Few Good Men just as Jo was baiting Kaffee at the softball park. And it was on TBS or TNT with a thousand commercials, so instead of snuggling up to my little princess, I was at the foot of the bed anxiously awaiting—still, after all these times and until 4 in the morning—“You’re Goddamn right I did!!!!”

I’ve probably only seen each movie 5-6 times start to finish, but easily over 100 each from some point till. What’s that about—that inescapable draw, like a good drug or great dame, that weakens my resolve and makes me powerless to its wiles—that makes me succumb to the profound power of great film, the most magnificent medium the human race has yet to invent.’